A/N:

Ah yes, that was a friggin long break I took from this fic. XD I even had a comment catching me slacking off on this. ^^"

But here we go, a bit of the crew's reaction to the blade from this prompt:

Toast_er989 on Chapter 33Sat 17 Apr 2021 09:20PM PDT

Though I'm interested how the crew is going to react to Sanji or Zoro now.

(Yes I know... the prompt is from 6 months ago... haha... hahaha...^^")

Sanji Kitetsu Chapter 34

The next few days are a blur of sailing, walking through deserts, arguing about which way to go (mainly between Luffy and Vivi), and more walking through deserts. Carmen wakes up from her injuries just before they arrive at Yuba, and by the time they see Rainbase on the horizon, Chopper has given her permission to get off the sand sled and walk around for short distances. She seems to be in good condition, according to Chopper, who spends most of the travelling time lying right beside the cook on the sand sled due to low tolerance of the heat. The only remaining problem, aside from the loss of blood and the burns on her arm, is the fact that she still doesn't have her voice back.

No one comments on it aside from the round of small celebrations when she first opens her eyes.

The next time Zoro finds the time and the need to clean his swords is when a number of them are locked in a sea stone cage after Luffy leads them right into a trap in Crocodile's casino. Neither of the resident voices in Kitetsu has been responsive since Zoro's first meeting with the old man after his near drawning experience that night, although the swordsman has a feeling that the old man can hear him just fine.

Also caught in the cage with them is a grumpy white haired marine captain, and Zoro only half listens to the marine bitching about how sea stones are natural enemies of ability users and Usopp and Nami wailing at how they're all doomed because of that. His attention is drawn by the gem and swirling pattern on the hilt of the cursed blade. The familiar deep blue gem is now an unsettling deep red, the bright golden swirl now a charcoal black.

Zoro feels a rush to the head with the need to get immediate answers from the elusive new resident of the sword. Impatience has him closing his eyes and adjusting his breaths within seconds, trying to force his way into tuning.

I do not recall giving you permission to enter. The old man finally says, shoving Zoro back to reality.

At least tell me what's going on with him! Why is he turning black?

I owe you no explanation, particularly not when the blame of the matter rests with you. I believe you are not in need of a reminder of how you were prepared to CUT him with your other blades when he finally found his way back to you with my help.

No, that was-

"You- you're STILL talking to that sword!" Usopp shouts from across the cage, hiding behind Nami and pointing a shaky but accusatory finger at the cursed blade in Zoro's lap.

All eyes shift between the two ends of the cage. The whining over sea stone bars halts, along with Zoro's demand for answers about the blond.

"Why are you still talking to it, Zoro?! Don't you remember what it did to Carmen? What it did to YOU?!" The sharpshooter continues, voice higher with each question.

"He. What he did." The swordsman sighs. "Of course I remember. I also remember you saying you'd defend our relationship with your life, Fairy Godmother Usopp."

"Quit joking around about it! That was BEFORE it tried to killed Carmen!"

Tension hangs in the air for a few long moments.

"It won't happen again." Zoro runs a thumb over the black swirl on the hilt, repeating the promise he made to Luffy, to the old man, to the blond, and to himself. "I'll make sure of it."

It's a promise he will repeat as many times as he needs to.

"HOW?! It LOST CONTROL at the beach! And then that night-"

"Usopp." Luffy calls from where he leans against the wall, hat low and voice light, but carrying a weight with his words only his crew knows. "It's fine. Zoro promised."

"But-"

"I mean, Carmen woke up and seemed to be fine. Chopper said so." Nami adds, sounding tired.

"Nami! Not you too!" Usopp gasps before frantically shaking the navigator by the shoulders.

"Well I trust Luffy's judgement."

"Luffy didn't see what I saw that night! None of you did! That sword- It almost made Zoro DROWN! It POSSESSED him! His EYES turned red and he didn't even KNOW how he ended up in the water!"

"Oi Usopp, calm down. I'll sort that out with him." Zoro says, trying to sound assuring.

"Sort-?!" The sharpshooter makes an exasperated huff and pulls at his wooly black hair in frustration.

"Why, Zoro? WHY?" He continues after a moment of speechlessness. "Why can't you just get a new sword?! Are your swords more important to you than your nakama?! Are they more important to you than your own life?!"

The cursed blade warms under Zoro's palm, boiling in unheard rage at Usopp's oblivious suggestion.

Oi, you calm down too. Stay out of this. This is between me and my nakama.

Perhaps you are indeed in need of a reminder that it is Sanji who has pledged himself to you and therefore must heed your commands. I do as I see fit, and if I feel the need to-

Do you want to make this worse for the Curly bastard?! The swordsman grits. The words seem to be enough to subdue the old man into a reluctant silence.

With one side under control, Zoro turns to his nakama.

"What would you do if Kaya became a threat to one of us?" He asks in the least hostile voice he can manage.

"K-K-Kaya would never threaten anyone! D-d-d-don't put her on the same level as your weapons!" Usopp counters, visibly trying to stand tall on wobbly knees.

"You saw him walk around Merry for weeks. You talked to him in person way more times than I talked to Kaya. You ate the food he made. You stood in the same circle with him celebrating the marks of a nakama. He's not just a weapon to me, Usopp. He's my partner."

The sharpshooter opens his mouth and closes it again without a sound.

"I promise I won't let him hurt you. It's your choice if you want to trust my words, but don't let me hear you suggesting I abandon him again."

With that, Zoro turns his attention inward to the old man again. He has yet to get the answers he needs.